Thursday, November 20, 2014

It's been a long time coming, but we finally bought a new stove last week. We desperately needed one, I just couldn't make up my mind on what features we should have. After looking at tons of stove, at tons of stores, weighing all the options, I finally narrowed it down to "the one". Just had to wait for Truckin' Man to have time to go shopping with me, and make sure he agreed. No debate from him, as long as I was happy, it was all good!

Of course, once it was installed I HAD to bake. So, chocolate cake it was. This cake was so freaking good, I couldn't believe it. Was it really that good, or had it just been that long since we had chocolate cake? Based on what my co-workers had to say, it's really just that good! It is such a moist cake, and the perfect amount of chocolate.

I had to make it twice, just to be sure I loved this as much as I thought I did! Truckin' Man isn't going to be happy about this, but I already have half of the second cake packed up and ready to go to a friends house. We don't need to eat that much cake! Besides that, I need to bake some cookies!

I'll share this frosting with you another time, I need to test it a bit more. Trust me though, it will rock your world!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9 x 13 pan, and dust with flour (or extra cocoa), set aside. In small saucepan, whisk cocoa into water. Bring to boil over medium heat. Once boiling, remove from heat and set aside.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

The things you learn online, even on facebook, are amazing. Back in October, one of my online friends from the UK, shared some pictures taken at Peck's Farm Market in Spring Green, Wisconsin. That's about an hour away from my house! How did I not know about this place, and what are the odds I would learn about it from my UK friend? Strange, but we now had a weekend roadtrip lined up!

Truckin' Man has driven by Peck's Farm Market like a bazillion times, but he really didn't think of it as more than a place to pick up vegetables, and a traffic hazard because of all the traffic and accidents he unfortunately see's there.

I LOVED this place. I will be waiting to see if they get all decked out as much for Christmas as they do Halloween! AND... I have since learned that they have two locations! Next trip down maybe we will go to the other market.

I loved the creativity of the different squashes to make these horses!

Aren't the hay bales cute?

Garden of Eaten? Clever! They had so many varieties of squash, I loved this shopping trip!

I have never seen so many varieties of popcorn. We decided on Apple Blossom, it's a new favorite!

Biggest pumpkin I have ever seen!

I won't tell you how many years since I have been to a petting zoo, or I will be giving away my old age, but it has been a LONG time!

It was so much fun seeing all the animals!

I wanted to bring this little miniature cow home with us!!

The goats were so clever, they knew how to work their stuff to get as many treats as possible!

I don't know if this ol' gray goose was as ornery as he looked, but I certainly wouldn't try to pet him/her!

Geese everywhere!

I loved the colors on this lil' goat.

So many rabbits!

Do you see the shape of the pond?

Look at those eyes!

Guinea's are such a unique bird. Honestly, they scare me a little bit!

Thursday, November 6, 2014

It's time to Fill the Cookie Jar! The theme for November is Thanksgiving. There was lots of room to come up with idea's on this theme, so it was up to me on how to interpret. Pumpkin is a key Thanksgiving flavor in my opinion. But when it comes to desserts, pecan is right there, too. So, what about a bar that would bring both of these flavors together? With that, these bars were born.

Just enough pumpkin, but not so much that the pecans are lost. And the crust just completes it all into a Thanksgiving worthy theme!

I am still using my South Carolina Pecans that my friend Missy so amazingly shared from her family's supply.
I smile every time I break into my supply, and hope that some day I have my own pecan tree!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

We love squash. Somehow though, we have never had butternut squash. I think I had it once many years ago and didn't care for it, so I have just stayed away from it. With all the amazing butternut recipes going around online, I knew that I had to give it a fair shot, and try it.

To give it a fair shake, we decided to try it in chili, and it was wonderful! The flavor really reminded us of pumpkin, but it has a slightly firmer texture so can hold up well as an addition in chili.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

I'm back... again!! Once and for all, I have finally found out what it is I am allergic to. Soybeans (no dietary issues) and Asian Beetles. This is why I suffer so badly this time of year. The allergy clinic I am going to does a treatment to develop a resistance to allergens. Hopefully, by this time next year I won't harvesting today, so I should get some relief in air quality soon.

Sooooo... That's where I am at. In the mean time... we did have a good day with clear air, so I wasn't suffering and got to go spend some time with the chickens. They have started laying eggs! Yeay!! It is so exciting bringing in eggs each day. We are finally getting enough that I will be checking with my former egg customer and see if they are ready for some eggs!

Our little bantam rooster

The Buff Orpington hens, are the most gentle and social chicken I have been around yet.

No eggs from the American yet.

This lady is one of my favorites. Her personality and coloring reminds me so much of my first hens.

The gang.

ALWAYS keeping a watchful eye.

Surprise! After leaving the coop and walking around seeing what all was going on,

I found a few raspberries waiting to treat me!

Do you like the "filters" on the chicken photo's or do you prefer a more natural light?